Praxair resumes merger talks with Linde AG

By Chris Bosak

Updated 9:26 am, Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Photo: NICOLAS ARMER / AFP/Getty Images

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(FILES) This file photo taken on March 17, 2014 shows the logo of German maker of industrial gases Linde in Munich. German industrial gas supplier Linde and US competitor Praxair said September 12, 2016 they had abandoned plans for a merger that would have created the world's biggest firm in the sector. / AFP PHOTO / DPA / Nicolas ArmerNICOLAS ARMER/AFP/Getty Images less

(FILES) This file photo taken on March 17, 2014 shows the logo of German maker of industrial gases Linde in Munich. German industrial gas supplier Linde and US competitor Praxair said September 12, 2016 they ... more

Photo: NICOLAS ARMER / AFP/Getty Images

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A Praxair gas truck leaves a company air separation plant and hydrogen storage facility. The Danbury-based company has signed an agreement with a Korean steel firm.

A Praxair gas truck leaves a company air separation plant and hydrogen storage facility. The Danbury-based company has signed an agreement with a Korean steel firm.

Photo: Contributed Photo / ST

Praxair resumes merger talks with Linde AG

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DANBURY - The potential merger between Praxair and Linde AG is not a dead deal yet, despite a mutual announcement in September that talks were off the table.

Praxair, a Danbury-based industrial gas company, confirmed on Tuesday that it has approached Linde AG about resuming discussions regarding a merger. The company pointed out that “there can be no assurance that this will result in a transaction, or on what terms any transaction may occur,” according to a release.

Praxiar said it will not comment further at this time.

The Linde Group confirmed Wednesday on its website that it has received a revised proposal from Praxair.

In mid-August, the companies announced they were in talks to merge and create the world’s largest industrial gas supplier. Linde AG is based in Germany. Each company is valued at approximately $30 billion. Those talks followed a deal in which France’s Air Liquide SA bought out Airgas in a $13 billion deal that made Air Liquide the industry leader in terms of annual revenue.

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About a month after the talks started, the companies announced that discussions were terminated because a “mutual understanding” could not be reached.

Praxair supplies gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, dry ice, helium and neon to a variety of industries. The company, which employs about 400 people in Danbury, had sales of $10.8 billion in 2015. It announced in 2014 it was keeping its headquarters in Danbury and would make a $65 million investment to build a 100,000-square-foot facility at the former location of GE Capital on Riverview Drive.